Islamist rebels in Syria say they have broken through to besieged opposition-held areas in eastern Aleppo. They claim to have carried out a successful offensive against the government’s Ramousah military complex, in an effort to end a month-long blockade.

A monitoring group backs up the reports, however pro-government media outlets deny the siege has been broken.

Rebel fighters from Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, released images appearing to suggest they now have access to armaments belonging to the Syrian army.

If they have managed to connect with eastern Aleppo, the government-held west of the city would effectively be isolated from the capital Damascus as the southern route towards the city would be cut off.